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RNZ News
06-05-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Car park suggested as temporary daytime space for New Plymouth's homeless population
Rough sleepers have set up camp in downtown New Plymouth. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin The subterranean level of a council car park, a derelict nightclub and a prison dating back to the 1870s have all been suggested as temporary places for New Plymouth's rough sleepers to hang out during the day. At the second hui on the issue in as many weeks, the car park emerged as a possible short-term fix for a group of homeless who have been camping out in the CBD for years . About 50 business people attended the invite-only panel discussion which featured representatives from police, council, the Ministry of Social Development, social service providers and the local MP. Apart from acting district commander Andrew Fabish - who promised more cops on the beat - they heard little in the way of concrete solutions, but plenty about how complex the problem was. Dianne Gibbons' business Shampoo Plus was adjacent to Waimanako / The Hope Centre - which offered pay-what-you-can meals and counselling services - and had become a popular place for rough sleepers to congregate. "It's just intimidating there's some new ones at the moment who obviously aren't aware of us and our connection we have with the others, so they are just intimidating us all day at the moment a lot of the young ones. "And just getting to work freaking about whether I'm going to have to move someone away from my doorway." She suggested the car park basement - which rough sleepers had been using until access was locked last week - could be used as a stop-gap solution ahead of the nearby social services building being demolished later this year. The car park in downtown New Plymouth. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin "Not on a permanent basis but I think as a fixture for now, it gives them somewhere warm and dry and there is a camera down there and that way they are not out on the street intimidating people. "As I said my business is struggling but I feel for them as well because I know all of them by name, they all know me by name." Council chief executive Gareth Green had reservations, but was open to the idea. "There was some health and safety issues with how it was previously and what council was committed to doing was working with the different agencies to find a solution and the car park may well be that. I think it's an intriguing idea that we need to do more work around." Pressed about why the link to the car park and Waimanako had been locked, Green elaborated. "There were some health and safety issues particularly with access to that car park which is out of sight of CCTV and lighting. Users of the car park were being put at risk." 'The Mill' - a derelict former nightclub, was also floated as a suggestion. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin Acting district commander Andrew Fabish was onboard. "As a temporary idea I don't have any issue with it and if people are sort of staying in one spot it's safe for them as well then I'm quite supportive of exploring it." Founder of the mental health refuge Taranaki Retreat and Waimanako / The Hope Centre, Jamie Allen, could see potential fishhooks. "Often those kinds of solutions where they are home-brewed and they're informally happening and nobody knows they're informally happening that's in a different league to 'we're condoning the use of this building for this purpose' and then that brings in a whole lot of regulatory issues that then become problematic." Jamie Allen floated the idea of using derelict former nightclub 'The Mill' - but immediately played that down as its neighbour was a liquor store. He also dismissed relocating to the former New Plymouth prison as suggested from the floor. saying that, spiritually, it was just wrong. The prison in New Plymouth, dating back to the 1870s. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin However, he agreed the clock was ticking. "Yup, it's a pressing timeframe and our board are like going 'this is a pressing timeframe everybody and we really need to get our act together' and we are. The building is going to go we know that, but the service will not be going." Many New Plymouth businesses, meanwhile, are hoping a relocated Waimanako - away from the shopping precinct - will be attractive enough to act as a magnet for the rough sleeping community. Earlier this year the council and the philanthropic Toi Foundation allocated more than $1 million to establish a night shelter at the YMCA's building in central New Plymouth, and shower and laundry services were already up and running. It would begin offering beds to 22 people later this year. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sleep-out donations for homeless charity dip to £8k
A charity that supports homeless people with a sleep-out saw its donations halve to £8,000 for this year's event on Friday night. The Hope Centre, in Northampton, has been running The Big Sleep-Out for over a decade, raising money and awareness on homelessness. Kyra Williams, head of marketing for the charity, said the figure was less than half the amount raised at last year's event and "it costs us around £1,000 a day to run the homeless centre". The charity reported a 30% increase in the number of people who have used its services over the past year, and is now seeing about 65 people a day. Last month, Hope repurposed its office area, which is next to its hub in Campbell Street, to make room for 35 beds for rough sleepers. Ms Williams emphasised the importance of collaboration with local authorities to find solutions to homelessness. "Working together, you can find solutions. That is the way forward," she said. Nick Wilson, who took part in the sleep-out, had experience of sleeping on the streets before joining the Army. "I want to raise awareness of how homelessness doesn't equate to just rough sleeping," he said. "I found this out 16 months ago when my landlord sold the property from under me." Adam Brown, Leader of West Northamptonshire Council, said: "With growing demand and increased pressures on services, we need to identify new ways of working to best utilise our resources and meet people's needs." The council started a Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy last year, with an aim of building 650 affordable homes a year by 2029-30. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Sleep-out fundraiser 'crucial' to homeless charity Charity turns office into shelter during cold snap West Northamptonshire Council The Hope Centre
BBC News
09-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Northampton homelessness sleep-out raises half of 2024's amount
A charity that supports homeless people with a sleep-out saw its donations halve to £8,000 for this year's event on Friday Hope Centre, in Northampton, has been running The Big Sleep-Out for over a decade, raising money and awareness on Williams, head of marketing for the charity, said the figure was less than half the amount raised at last year's event and "it costs us around £1,000 a day to run the homeless centre".The charity reported a 30% increase in the number of people who have used its services over the past year, and is now seeing about 65 people a day. Last month, Hope repurposed its office area, which is next to its hub in Campbell Street, to make room for 35 beds for rough sleepers. Ms Williams emphasised the importance of collaboration with local authorities to find solutions to homelessness. "Working together, you can find solutions. That is the way forward," she said. Nick Wilson, who took part in the sleep-out, had experience of sleeping on the streets before joining the Army. "I want to raise awareness of how homelessness doesn't equate to just rough sleeping," he said."I found this out 16 months ago when my landlord sold the property from under me." Adam Brown, Leader of West Northamptonshire Council, said: "With growing demand and increased pressures on services, we need to identify new ways of working to best utilise our resources and meet people's needs."The council started a Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy last year, with an aim of building 650 affordable homes a year by 2029-30. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
07-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
Northamptonshire homeless charity says sleep-out event is crucial
A charity that supports people who are homeless or at risk of losing their home is hosting its annual Big Sleep Out on Friday night for people to experience sleeping Hope Centre, in Northampton, has been running the event for over a decade and has raised more than £20,000 each in the event, which has the theme "Cold and Unseen", will sleep out for 12 hours with just a sleeping bag and a cardboard or plastic Williams, from the Hope Centre, said: "The sleep-out is so significant because it's a sign of solidarity – there's empathy and compassion built into it and without the sleep-out we wouldn't be able to support the numbers of people here today." 'I had no other options' Ahead of the fundraiser, a 50 year-old man, who asked not to be identified, said the thought of where he would be without the charity "terrifies" told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) how he fell on hard times and turned to the Hope Centre for ended up sofa-surfing with friends for a year, after his marriage broke down and he was not able to work for health the start of the year, he began staying at the Hope Centre's winter night shelter. "I've never had to ask for help but I had no other options; there was nowhere else for me to go," he said."Being here has kept me off the street - I've got a warm place, I've got a bed, but the biggest thing is you have got a support team here."This place wouldn't be here if it weren't for people going the extra mile."If you're willing to accept the help, they'll do whatever they can in their power to help you." Adam Brown, Conservative leader of West Northamptonshire Council (WNC), will be taking part in the event this year. He told the LDRS : "It's an absolutely fantastic charity. It's not just about giving people a meal or making them comfortable on the streets, but also providing complete turnarounds in people's lives."I'm conscious of the fact that despite going out and being very cold for the night it will still be nowhere near the reality."But I think it's good to grasp those opportunities when they come along and get even a small insight." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
